"We may not think about them often," says the American Chemistry Council, "but versatile plastics inspire countless innovations that help make life better, healthier and safer every day." In this view, plastics provide cheap, hygienic, lightweight, and convenient materials for a growing economy. But plastics are turning out to be anything but convenient.

In 2010, American manufacturers produced over 51 million tons of plastic. That same year, American households threw away (not recycling) over half that amount. What are the costs and effects of this kind of waste in our daily lives? What can you personally do to protect the environment and your health?

Join us for a comprehensive review of research on plastic in the oceans, plastic toxicity, the costs of disposability, and ways that we each can shift to more life-sustaining materials. Local leaders in health, conservation, and resource recovery will describe issues and solutions to the plague of plastic pollution.